Re'eih

Re' eih
Av 26 & 27,5774   August 22 & 23, 2014

   If you are good and have followed the commandments, the you're a child of G-d, and even when you deviate, you're still a child of G-d!   You may definitely say, “No…….”…… ,…..But that does not hold true, as G-d loves us unconditionally and no matter what. At times, hard to believe!  So, when you deviate, you distance yourself from G-d, and likewise, when you do a mitzvah (good action/commandment), you become or are closer to G-d!   This is the Jewish definition of heaven and of hell.  Heaven is when you are close to G-d; hell is when you have distanced yourself from…… Our soul is NOT physical, so when we talk about hell, we are speaking about the utter embarrassment that we should internally feel and have as we FAILED to take and enjoy the pure advantage of all the good things that we could have done, and benefited others. Literally, we failed to better OUR world surrounding us, and the people we touch.   Judaism does not paint the picture of ‘hell’ like that portrayed by Dante and others, as we are NOT physical beings in the ‘other’ life!

  When we feel distant from G-d, it is indeed that very action and time that makes it so ‘Hellish’, and as people, when we have an internal discomfort because of an action that we have done that is not good, the distance and the feeling of disassociation is that of severe pain with in your soul.

My mom , would always say to me when I was a little boy, and sometimes a little older as well, “Barralah (her very affectionate name for me), “you can tell a man who boozes, by the company he chooses, and the pig (oops) got up and slowly walked away.”

She is a 100% correct, and now let me share with you and others…..  We read in this portion, “And observe all these things that I am commanding you in order that it should be good for you and for your children and forever and ever, that you, will do good and upright in the eyes of G-d, your G-d.”   This can be interpreted as “good” meaning in ‘heavenly’ and in an “upright’ manner in the eyes of G-d.  WE should always do “good” in the eyes of G-d, as G-d knows whether we are acting in good faith or in an ill manner.  G-d knows OUR motives. We can’t pretend and play here!  G-d is OMNIPRESENT.

So Mom, to your point here’s a story; there once was a VERY pious man who attended Shul (Synagogue) on a very regular basis, sometimes stayed there all day.  He read from the Torah, prayed a long side the Rabbi, and seemed to all congregants to be an extremely religious man in nature and manner.  The man was in the process of starting a business, and needed funding, so he politely approached and asked some of the people of the congregation if they would like to invest and receive a nice dividend in return if they ‘invested’ in his business plan, and if they would literally give him a loan!  Overwhelmingly many opened their wallets, and wrote checks and helped him build his business, and after a few months had passed, he disappeared with the money never to return.  He had most certainly fooled everyone in the congregation, BUT he did NOT fool G-d! G-d saw deeper than face value; G-d saw the man’s SOUL value!

The man was wrong in his portrayal to others, and obviously to the outside world, as he appeared and seemed sincere, but his soul was walking down a completely different path.  Most people can see your exterior and NOT see into your heart, your soul, and unable to take measure of your true motives, like that of G-d.  A TRUE GIFT!

Being observant, pious, religious, and doing good is viewed as a true blessing indeed, a MITZVAH, but cheating others and/or the system is hellish and although not like the picture of Dante’s fiery Hell, a much worse action is in order, a strain and a distance of your soul from G-d! 

Once again, even after ALL these years my mom was right again, as usual!  Her words might have been different than that of the Torah or my story, but her point is the same!  Be honest and true inside out, and make wise and ‘conscience’ decisions.  Be a stand up person, and not a person of false actions to paint yourself up to take advantage of people or a situation, or to rob or cheat to put a dime or a few more bucks in your wallet.

Be the person who exemplifies good inside out!